Gunn IMS was developed by Dr. Chan Gunn of Vancouver, Canada. It is based on a law of science – Cannon’s law of denervation supersensitivity. This law states that problems in muscles, and in fact all the tissues of the body, can be caused by problems in the nervous system. Nervous system problems make many tissues in the body very hypersensitive and dysfunctional, and in turn create muscles that become tight, sensitive, and eventually painful. Other subtle signs of nerve dysfunction, may also be noted, such as muscle weakness, changes in skin temperature, changes in sweating, and changes in hair and nail health.

Your Gunn IMS practitioner use dry needles, which are very fine solid needles (similar to acupuncture needles) that are inserted into muscles that are not functioning properly. In order to stimulate muscles directly, these fine needles are inserted at a greater depth as compared to a regular acupuncture session. Given the depth of insertion and safety issues involved, all Gunn IMS practitioners are registered physiotherapists or medical doctors, and have been trained and certified through the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine Continuing Professional Development Division, in Vancouver, Canada.

Gunn IMS addresses the nervous system, via the muscles, to relieve body pain. When a dry needle is inserted into muscles, they stimulate the nervous system in a way that help affected muscles relax (decreasing resting muscle tone). In addition, they also stimulate the nervous system in a way that actually makes overactive nerves less active. This, in and of itself, helps all the tissues the nerve supplies to function more normally and be less painful.

Prior to needle insertion, your practitioner will sterilize the area and then insert the needle into the affected tight muscle and manipulate the needle as needed – gradually changing the depth and direction possibly causing the patient to feel a twitch, or a cramp in the muscle. Once achieved, the needle is removed from that muscle.

When a needle is inserted in an especially taut muscle band, more significant twitching and/or cramping may be experienced as the muscle quickly contracts and relaxes. As this muscle is repeatedly stimulated over time, the nerves that affect the muscle eventually become less sensitive, gradually acclimatizing to this sensation, resulting in decreased resting muscle tone, as the muscle “learns” to relax. This sense of relaxation, and ultimately pain relief can take effect in 1-2 days, or over a period of a few weeks depending on how “wound up” the patient’s nervous system may be.

It is not unexpected for the patient to feel a “deep ache” or “soreness”, during and often following these sessions, though this will not always be the case. Many patients report feeling as if they have received a very intensive deep massage, and report significantly more relaxed afterwards.

Gunn IMS was developed as a remedy for chronic muscle pain and tension that results from muscles held in a consistently tight/shortened state. It is not uncommon for individuals to discover that despite all the massage, stretching and strengthening exercises you have done, there continues to be a pain and discomfort that just won’t resolve. If you find that this sounds like you, consider a consultation with your physiotherapist to see if Intramuscular Stimulation would be right for you.